Girdle



DeC- 3, 1935' M. G. wAKsMUNDzKA 2,022,751.

' GIRDLE FiledDeo. 2s, 19.54

@Hm/Mq.

Patented Dec. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GIRDLE Maria G.Waksmundzka, Washington, D. C. Application December 2s', 1934, serialNo. 759,564

duce the gure. Of course, the persons bodydoes not attain in reality theapparent contours simulated by theA garment, even after years of wear.What the girdle or corset does is to compress tissues that are yeldable,like fat, iiesh,`

and, to a lesser extent, muscle. In particular, Women tend, by too mucheating and too little exercise, to accumulate layers of fat in theregions of the buttocks, hips, and stomach. The usual girdle compressesthese layers as long as it is worn. This action is injurious in that itimpedes circulation, respiration, digestion, and movement. In addition,it shifts areas of tissue from normal position. Above all, it tends toatrophy the muscular tissues through desuetude and misuse.

It is a commonplace that women will go through torture to followfashion. And most of them will admit, to themselves if not to others,that corsets and girdles constitute a form oi torture. But thisself-imposed castigation is the more odious when it is realized that theend-all and be-all thereof, to wit, perfect molding of the gure, is notachieved, because of the fact that the girdle shifts its position whenthe wearer bends, twists, or merely sits. Usually, the device creeps"upwardly, applying pressure at unwanted and tender areas, tearingstockings if garters are attached, and presenting to the eye of thebeholder an uncomfortable and untidy appearance, to the great Vmentaland physical anguish of the victim.

One object of my invention is a girdle which will avoid all thesedrawbacks. It will be easy and comfortable to wear, will be adjustable,will apply pressure at the pro-per point and to the proper extent, andwill not ride or creep under any conditions.

Another object of my inventionis the provision of a girdle which may beworn by men or women for corrective purposes. It will not only notmisuse or atrophy the muscles, but will in fact assist the muscles toattain a healthy tone. It will also tend to correct the posture andotherwise assist nature.

Another object is to provide a girdle that will serve as a rupture belt.

Still another object is to provide an athletic supporter for use inboxing, wrestling, running, and other exercises.

Other objects will appear to those skilled in the art as thespecification proceeds. p

The invention will be more clearly understood byreference to theaccompanying drawing, forming part of the specification.

Fig. 1 represents a front View of my invention as applied to a girdle,showing all members thereof secured in position.

Fig. 2 represents the same article as Fig. l, showing the members inopen position.

Fig. 3 represents a front View of a modication of my invention.

Fig. 4 shows a detail of one form of strap. 10 Fig. 5 shows one of thepockets.

All reference characters designate the same or lsimilar elements in allfigures of the drawing.

My girdle, as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3, comprises a front portion Iand a rear portion 2, 3, l5 both shaped to fit the body snugly. The top4 of the girdle nts at about the waist of the wearer, and the roundedportion 6 ts about the hip. Portions I and 2, 3 are spaced fromeachother and are not joined at the crotch region; they may be split fromtop to bottom, preferably in the center of the back, and provided withlaces, buttons, hookless fastener, snaps, buckles, or any other meansfor adjustably tting and securing the girdle to the wearer. Of course,this fastening means may be at one or both sides, or in front, insteador in addition. In any event, the rear portion 2, 3 is left unfastenedat its center for some distance upwardly from the lowermost portion, forpurposes to be specified hereinafter.

To the bottom of the respective halves 2, 3 of the rear portion of thegirdle are sewn or otherwise attached the two pairs of straps 8, 9 and II, I2. The frontportion I terminates in what may be termed a crotchmember 'I, and on this crotch 35 member I are two guides I3 and I4. Whenthe device is worn, the straps 8 and I2 pass through the guide I3 andare fastened to a button I6 by means of one of a series of buttonholesin the straps, to permit proper adjustment. It is ap- 40 parent thatsnap fasteners, buckles, or other attaching means may be used instead ofthe button I 6 and the buttonholes. The strap 9 is adapted to passthrough the guide I4 and to be attached to the flaps I'I by means of thebuckle-snaps I8, 45 which permit adjustment, or other similar element.Similarly, the strap II passes through the guide I4 and attaches to theap I9 by means of the buckle-snaps 2|.

I have shown the guides I3 and I4 as horizontal, 50 but it is understoodthat they may be vertical, if desired. Also, the guide I3 may be longenough to permit the straps 9 and I I to pass therethrough, and theguide I4 may be so positioned as to guide the straps 8 and I2. 55

non-elastic material, or partially of one and partially of another.

The girdle may be used to hold absorbent pads for use by women, or itmay have attached thereto a sac to be worn by men for athletic purposes.

I have discovered that my arrangement of the straps is such as to resultin great comfort to the wearer. The fit of the girdle at the waist andthe hip will prevent it from sliding down, while at the same time thestraps will preventupward creeping or rising. There is no impeding ofcirculation anywhere, and indeed the principle may be applied togarments worn continually, for example, to underwear.

When worn by a ruptured person, the straps 8, 9 and Il, I2 are adjustedto give the desired support to the body. In addition, the pockets 244and 25Y may contain pads, as 24', Of course,

Y these pads are easily removable, so that thicker or thinner pads maybe used, as required.

The girdle is rst adjusted, by means of the laces, buckles, buttons, orother fastening means, to fit the body snugly. When one leg is movedforward, as in walking, the twostraps on that side of the leg` willexert a periodic pressure in front and in back of the body, in time withthe movement of the leg. I have found that this massaging action tendsto reduce and to prevent the accumulation of fatty tissue. Furthermore,this alternate application and release of pressure to the hips, waist,and buttocks actually increases the circulation and results in theformation of muscular tissue of long, silky, fibrous formation, whichgives the skin a pleasing appearance.

Since the girdle is snug tting when the wearer stands in an uprightposition, any variation in posture, as standing, sitting, or walkingimproperly, will apply pressure to certain regions of the body and thusremind the person, so that he will tend to acquire a correct posture.This, in turn, will have a beneficial action on the health and mentalwell-being.

In the form shown in Fig. 3, movement of one leg will create pressure ofthe opposite sense on the other leg, resulting in further support andmassaging of the various muscles. But in both forms of the invention, myidea is fundamentally to not bind or impede circulation or other normalfunctions of vthe `body in any way. My girdle assists these naturalfunctions and builds up the health of the person so that standing,sitting, or exercise becomes a pleasure and abenefit. In addition, itprovi-des support where needed, and prevents and supports herni-a.

Particular attention is called to the fact that in girdles of the usualform the stress that should normally be supported by the muscles isexerted on the girdle, so that the muscles become flabby and atrophied,whereas in my girdle the stress is actually supported by muscles. Duringmovement, the straps transfer the stress from one group of muscles toanother, resulting in -a rhythmic massage and acceleration ofcirculation.

The pressure exerted by my girdle is longitudinal or along with themuscle, not against it.

If the wearer must go to the toilet, the girdle need not be unfastenedin any way, for the straps are positioned to permit free use of theexcretory organs. To remove the girdle, the four straps are unsnapped orotherwise unfastened, and the body of the girdle unlaced or unsnapped,which can be done with ease and speed.

For additional comfort, the straps may be shaped to present a round orother surface at the point where they pass the joint of the thighs, :anda portion or portions of the strap, for example, the ends, may be ofelastic material. Other .changes may be made in the form and dimensionsto suit the particular wearer, without departing from the spirit of theinvention as set forth Vin the appended claims.

Fig. 4 shows the strap 8 or I2 with its ends of elastic material, andthe middle portion of nonelastic material. Of course, the straps 9 and Hmay be similarly shaped, or formed.

It is understood that underwear, outer garmentaSanitary belts,supporters, or other articles of apparel maybe improved and changed inaccordance with my invention to comprise the straps I have described.The straps may be attached to such points of the garment as will resultin greatest comfort and benefit, and to this end, two or more of thestraps may be crossed, as previously described, near their ends or centers, or nearer one portion of the garment, as may suit the wearer.

Having described my invention, what I claim asnew and desire to protectby Letters Patent is:

l. An article of the character described, comprising a body-encirclinggirdle having a front portion and a rear portion, flaps extending fromthe sides of said girdle over said front portion, two pairs of strapssecured to the respective halves of said rear portion, said straps beingadapted to pass between the thighs, a guide on said front portion, saidguide guiding at least one of said straps, and means on said iiaps andon said front portion for adjustably fastening the free ends of thestraps.

2. An article of the character described, comprising a front portion anda rear portion, a strap secured to the right rear portion and adapted topass between the thighs and to be fastened to the left front portion, asecond strap secured to the right rear portion and adapted to passbetween the thighs and to be fastened to the right front portion, andtwo similar straps secured to the left rear portion and adapted to passbetween the thighs and to be fastened to Athe right front portion andleft front portion respectively.

3. An article of the character described, comprising a front portion anda rear portion, at least two straps secured to the rear portion at oneside thereof and adapted to pass between the thighs and to be fastenedto the front portion, the points of fastening being such that the strapscross each other between their ends.

4. An -article of the character described, comprising a front portionand a rear portion, a strap extending from the rear portion to the frontportion, and a pocket in the front portion adapted to lie against a`predetermined area of the anatomy, said pocket being adapted to receivea pad, the strap passing over the pocket and adapted to exert pressureon the pocket and pad.

MARIA G. WAKSMUNDZKA.

